To scrub or not to scrub, that is the question as we approach these winter months. We want to put our best face forward for all our special holiday events. The heat, climate and lack of hydration can leave our skin looking lifeless and dull. There are a variety of great exfoliants out there, from gentle, to really high powered and effective, that can offer the perfect solutions for your specific skin type and concerns.

Let us begin with the sensitive skin guys and gals; there is something for both of you to use. Having sensitive and dry skin can seem like a curse sometimes. There are always little patches of skin that never seem to smooth out. After you apply your foundation you notice even more how dehydrated and dry your skin is. This is because all the dry dead skin is not being exfoliated and has nowhere to go but stay on your skin. For dry and sensitive skin types we suggest Sothys Gommage Exfoliant. This is a gentle yet effective treatment to release the surface dryness on your skin, making it softer and smoother. It does not contain any granules, which means it will not scratch or damage your delicate skin. It’s an oat flour base product that contains bee’s wax to help seal in the skin’s surface moisture. When using a gommage product you just have to be a little patient. All you need to do is leave this on your dry skin for about a minute. Then you want to gently slough off the peel in a circular motion. Do this very slowly, as you do not want to pull or irritate your skin. Once the gommage is gone so is your dull, dry skin. This product also works great for the tops of your hands!

If you are searching for a gentle scrub instead of a gommage, we suggest Avene Gentle Purifying Scrub. This has a non-abrasive gel texture that will unclog your pores and purify your skin. It really is a must try for people with sensitive skin, that may be apprehensive to try scrubs.

For skin types more on the oily side, try Philosophy Never Let Them See You Shine Scrub.This is a cleanser and scrub all in one, great for on the go lifestyles. This product will help to control oil and shine, but also buff away all the dull tired skin. This does not have any added oils, so it is just perfect for oily skin types. This product also contains jojoba ester which will soothe and condition your skin, leaving it fresh and fully hydrated.

If you are looking for a really effective peel treatment we suggest something with an AHA base to brighten and improve the skins tone and texture. If your skin is on the oily side and you have breakouts, try the Topix Gly Sal 10-2 Pads. These pads have 10% pure glycolic and 2% salicylic acid. Glycolic acid is the smallest of hydroxy acids, so it can really penetrate into your skin, removing all the dead surface layers of skin. Glycolic can also help to reduce wrinkles, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation and improve many other skin conditions. The salicylic acid works with the witch hazel for skin toning and astringent benefits. This would work great to protect your skin from future breakouts, and help clear up the existing ones. This is a great treatment to do up to 3 times a week for skin smoothing results. These little pads are handy, effective, and the price is right. They also come in 5-2 for people that have skin that is not as oily and a bit more sensitive. Another great peel is the Philosophy Micro delivery Peel Pads.These peel pads use a combination of lactic acid, and citrus acids to really give you a whole new look. These small pads contain full-sized antioxidants with an enriched formula to protect and soothe your skin. These pads work great for dry and dehydrated skin types.

If you are looking for a highly effective skin resurfacing product we suggest a microdermabrasion peel. Before you spend all your money at the dermatologist for this procedure, take a look at these products: Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion has a great crystal polish formula, which will help the skin look radiant and new. Dr. Brandt uses Magnesium oxide crystals, similar to that of an in-office peel. The crystals will not scratch or irritate your skin; you will only have smooth skin using this treatment. Even those that have sensitive skin associated with rosacea can use this product every two weeks or so. Another great micoderm treatment is Dr. Michelle Copeland Microdermabrasion Formula.This product uses AHA in conjunction with powerful antioxidants to exfoliate and soothe the skin. This product will not give you the flaking effect that a lot of peels can have because of its soothing benefits. This treatment is a little less abrasive then the Dr. Brandt microdermabrasion, so if your skin is on the sensitive side, we suggest trying this one out.

A great tool to use in conjunction with your favorite cleanser to help exfoliate is the Clarisonic Skin Care System. This little tool needs to be mentioned when it comes to offering a wonderful cleanse and exfoliation. It has double the power than manually cleansing your skin but is gentle enough to use twice a day. You can choose to get a sensitive brush head so even testy skin types can benefit from the system. This is a staff and customer favorite, and also a fabulous gift idea for the holidays!

There are many different types of skin refining products to choose from. They offer similar results, by helping to improve the tone and texture of your skin. By using an exfoliant on a regular basis, you will notice how beautifully your other products will work. Serums will penetrate better, makeup will glide onto your skin, and you will have an overall healthier glow. When using products that exfoliate we recommend using a sunscreen during the day to protect your new skin. We hope that these products will help shed the dull winter skin, and prepare you for the warm months ahead!